Window buck and methods of assembly

Abstract

A window buck is formed of side walls that are extruded from vinyl. The side walls have interior channels. The side walls may be formed to effect a female-male connection between the ends of two adjoining side walls. Alternatively a locking member is provided that is sized to frictionally engage a selected channel. The edges of the side members are shaped for abutment to each other with a connector in the channels to hold the window buck together. The window buck thereafter may be placed before the cement wall is formed and is sized to receive a window frame. The window buck may be formed into selected geometric shapes. Window bucks of different dimensions may be assembled by selected sides of different dimensions from bins or pallets of presized side members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A window buck for forming a window frame opening in a wall, said window buck comprising: side member means assembled to define a window frame opening, said side member means being formed to have: a perimeter,   a width adapted to be substantially the width of a wall into which the window buck is to be placed,   a plurality of at least three internal channels of each of said channels being in a side by side relationship and coaxial with common walls, and each of said channels being hollow and extending along said perimeter, and   at least two ends each formed to abut the other proximate the end of the other; and   connector means for holding said at least two ends in abutment to each other, said connector means being a locking member having one end sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with any one of said plurality of channels in one of said at least two ends and having another end sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with a corresponding any one of said plurality channels in the other of said at least two ends.     
     
     
       2. The window buck of claim 1, wherein said locking member has friction means proximate each of its ends and formed therewith to frictionally engage said selected channel in one end of said side member means and the corresponding selected channel in the other end of said side member means. 
     
     
       3. The window buck of claim 1, wherein said side member means includes a plurality of separate sides, each of which is formed to have two ends, both of which abut proximate one end of another side member. 
     
     
       4. The window buck of claim 1, wherein said side member means is formed to define a circular shaped perimeter. 
     
     
       5. The window buck of claim 2, wherein said side member means is four separate sides assembled to define a rectilinearly shaped window buck. 
     
     
       6. A window buck for forming a window frame opening in a wall, said window buck comprising: side member means for defining a window frame opening, said side member means being formed to have: a perimeter for extending about the window frame opening, and   a first end and a second end each having a plurality of at least three side by side openings; and     connector means formed for mechanically connecting said first end and said second end, said connector means being a locking member which has a first member sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with a selected one of said first plurality of openings in said first end and which has a second member sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with a corresponding selected one of said second plurality of openings in said second end.   
     
     
       7. The window buck of claim 6, wherein said side member means includes a plurality of channels each of which is hollow and each of which is in communication with a said opening. 
     
     
       8. The window buck of claim 7, wherein said first member has first friction means associated therewith for frictionally engaging said selected one of said first plurality of openings, and said second member has second friction means associated therewith for frictionally engaging said selected one of said second plurality of openings. 
     
     
       9. The window buck of claim 8, wherein said first member and said second member of said locking member are unitarily formed and oriented at a right angle relative to each other. 
     
     
       10. The window buck of claim 8, wherein said side member means includes a first side member having a first end and a second end, and a second side member having a first end and a second end, and wherein said first end of both said first side member and said second side member and the second end of both said first side member and said second side member are formed to abut each other. 
     
     
       11. The window buck of claim 10, wherein said first member is oriented to be normal relative to said second member. 
     
     
       12. The window buck of claim 11, wherein said first side member and said second side member both have a width and a longitudinal axis, and wherein said first end of both said first side member and said second side member are at an angle of about 45 degrees transverse to the said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       13. The window buck of claim 7 wherein said side member means includes four sides, each of which four sides is formed to have a said first end and a said second end, said first end and said second end of each of said four sides being assembled with a locking member for connecting the first end of one to the second end of another of each of said four sides, and wherein said four sides when assembled with a first end of one connecting to the second end of another define a window frame opening which is multi-sided in projection. 
     
     
       14. The window buck of claim 13, wherein said window frame is rectangular in projection. 
     
     
       15. The window buck of claim 13, wherein said interior flange and said exterior flange are spaced apart and formed to receive fluidized cement thereinbetween. 
     
     
       16. The window buck of claim 13, wherein said interior flange and said exterior flange each have a distal edge have a bead portion each oriented toward the other. 
     
     
       17. The window buck of claim 7, wherein said side member means is formed to define a non-rectangular shaped perimeter when assembled with said first end abutting said second end. 
     
     
       18. A window buck for forming a window frame opening in a wall having an interior surface, said window buck comprising: side member means assembled to define a window frame opening, said side member means being formed to have: a perimeter,   a width adapted to be substantially the width of a wall into which the window buck is to be placed,   a plurality of internal channels each side by side and hollow and extending along said perimeter,   an interior surface facing toward said window opening,   an interior flange extending away from said interior surface and adapted to extend along the interior surface of said wall, and   at least two ends each formed to abut the other proximate the end of the other; and connector means for holding said at least two ends in abutment to each other.     
     
     
       19. The window buck of claim 18, wherein said interior flange is joined to said interior surface. 
     
     
       20. The window buck of claim 19, wherein said wall has an exterior surface spaced from said interior surface, wherein an exterior flange extends away from said interior surface and is adapted to extend substantially along the exterior surface of said wall. 
     
     
       21. The window buck of claim 20, wherein said exterior flange is joined to said interior surface. 
     
     
       22. The window buck of claim 21, wherein said exterior flange is sized to extend away a distance selected so that fasteners may be positioned therethrough to secure said side member in a desired location. 
     
     
       23. The window buck of claim 22, wherein said exterior flange and said interior flange are formed to receive cement thereinbetween. 
     
     
       24. The window buck of claim 23, wherein said exterior flange and said interior flange have a node adapted for attachment to a cement wall. 
     
     
       25. A window buck for forming a window frame opening in a wall, said window buck comprising: side member means assembled to define a window frame opening, said side member means being formed to have: a perimeter,   a width adapted to be substantially the width of a wall into which the window buck is to be placed,   a plurality of internal channels of substantially the same size in cross section, each of said channels being coaxial and aligned in a row with each of said channels being hollow and extending along said perimeter, and   at least two ends each formed to abut the other proximate the end of the other; and   a locking member for holding said at least two ends in abutment to each other, said locking member having one end sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with any one of and each of said plurality of channels in one of said at least two ends and having another end sized and shaped for insertion into and engagement with a corresponding any one of and each of said plurality channels in the other of said at least two ends.